Smart travel: future trains, new business travel costs

The latest can’t-miss travel news covering levitating trains, travel market forecasts, ultimate flying experiences, and more. Want to know how much your business trips will cost in 2025? Read what CEOs think of the global business travel forecast. Dreaming of a 30-minute commute from Los Angeles to San Francisco? We’ve got an update on how that dream is getting closer to reality. Read on for other picks from this week’s travel update.

Global business travel: Activity costs will slow in 2024 and continue to rise slightly in 2025

The Global Business Travel Forecast to 2025, released yesterday, shows that the cost of business travel and events continues to rise worldwide, but at a slower pace than in past years. Favorable market conditions coupled with a balanced growth trajectory support this downward trend, although the uncertainty remains for conference costs. Suzanne Neufang, CEO of GBTA, said: “The research shows that while travel costs may be entering a more stable period, companies should remain vigilant to changing pricing dynamics influenced by global trends. The coming years will require a strategic approach that balances cost management with sustainability, innovation and responsiveness to market changes.”

Future Hyperloop transportation technology successfully passes early test

Want to travel by magnetism? Thanks to Hyperloop, a revolutionary form of public transportation is closer to becoming a reality than ever before. Hyperloop is a technology in development that transports passengers in capsules via magnetic fields inside a depressurized tube – or, in layman’s terms, via levitation. A 460-yard-long tube at the European Hyperloop Center in the Netherlands consists of 34 sections, including a high-powered vacuum pump that reduces the pressure inside, which reduces drag and enables speeds of up to 435 mph – although recent tests were conducted at 18 mph on a roughly 100-meter-long tube. Roel van de Pas, commercial director at Hardt Hyperloop, describes the testing hurdles this way: “The hardest thing we are doing now is testing all these functions together. Levitation, propulsion, navigation, all these functions that we can now play like an orchestra, to have them work together.” Although the latest test results are still far from approved, we look forward to the day when it only takes 30 minutes to get from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

Pan Am adds second route to 2025 schedule

All-flat seats, Golden Age Continental cuisine, an open bar, and more? For just $59,950, you too can experience Pan Am’s private Boeing 757-200—and the new seats just opened up. After announcing a June 27-July 9, 2025 itinerary departing New York with stops in Bermuda, Lisbon, Marseille, London, and Foynes, Ireland, the airline has added a second identical itinerary, scheduled for June 15-17. Once landed, passengers will check into luxury hotels like London’s Savoy and Lisbon’s Four Seasons before heading off for exclusive excursions, including a private tour of Kensington Palace. The price, just under $60,000, includes all flights, accommodations, most meals and beverages, and branded merchandise.

Cancun International Airport balances sustainability commitment with route expansion

In a joint effort with Quintana Roo state tourism officials, Cancun Airport has opened up direct flights from major cities in the United States and Canada, driving tourism growth throughout the Mexican Caribbean. Sustainability was a key consideration in the design of the expansion and future development, such as a commitment to protect the area’s natural landscape while upgrading infrastructure to facilitate access to popular destinations such as Playa del Carmen, Costa Mujeres and Cozumel. The airport itself also embodies ecological awareness, with renewable energy systems and water conservation measures in an effort to meet increasing global sustainability standards. “Our goal is to allow visitors to seamlessly experience all that the Mexican Caribbean has to offer… Cancun International Airport is at the heart of this growth, ensuring that millions of travelers can enjoy more efficient and environmentally friendly travel,” said Bernardo Cueto, Quintana Roo’s Secretary of Tourism, in a statement.

Business travel startup raises $140 million Series C at $2.1 billion valuation

Denver-based business travel search platform Engine (rebranded from its previous name Hotel Engine) has been valued at $2.1 billion by private equity firm Permira, up 62% from $1.3 billion in 2021. The search engine provides business travelers with access to more than 750,000 hotels, 300 airlines, and 40 car rental companies; providers then use Engine to deliver special offers, reservation management, and marketing to customers. Its 70% year-over-year revenue growth solidifies its successful trajectory, and the majority of the $140 million it secured in its latest funding round will be used for product development and a sharper focus on airline and car rental bookings. “Hotel bookings will always be in our DNA, but our goal is to transform the entire travel experience. We want to be the engine for business travel. Our new name will reflect that, and with this latest investment from Permira, we will be better positioned than ever to turn our ambitions into reality,” said Engine CEO Elia Wallen in a statement.